There's no single "best" UK train company, as it depends on priorities (punctuality, value, comfort), but recent surveys often highlight LNER, Grand Central, and Hull Trains for high customer satisfaction, while Merseyrail excels in service reliability on commuter lines. For cheap fares on long-distance routes, Lumo is a strong contender, though Avanti West Coast (despite punctuality issues) and Great Western Railway (GWR) are popular for different regions and comfort.
The best train journeys in the UK
Lumo is an open access operator. They too run services from Edinburgh to London but tend to stop at less places. They compete with LNER by offering very cheap deals for travel, although these aren't always available. Some tickets will be valid for travel with any company, some for specific trains.
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is the largest train operating company in the UK with more passengers, more trains and more staff than anyone else in the country.
Union Pacific has long had a reputation among investors as the best-run U.S. railroad, with vast stretches of track through rural areas and connections to western energy assets.
The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway, also known as the Big Four Railroad and commonly abbreviated CCC&StL, was a railroad company in the Midwestern United States. It operated in affiliation with the New York Central system.
Following the collapse of Virgin Trains East Coast in May 2018, the newly-nationalised operator of the East Coast Main Line was named London North Eastern Railway to evoke the earlier company.
The company is owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) but is in the process of being nationalised as part of the abolition of passenger rail franchising in Great Britain; Avanti West Coast routes will be taken over by Great British Railways by October 2027.
Great Western Railway was revealed as Europe's most expensive operator, with fares two and a half times the average EU cost. Avanti West Coast was the second spenniest with prices one and a half times more.
LNER or Lumo – our verdict
If you're travelling as a family or in a group, we'd still recommend sticking with LNER. It has better luggage provision, more table seats and it's likely to be less stressful trying to board and get settled.
The 'Big Four' railway companies – LNER (London and North Eastern Railway), LMS (London, Midland and Scottish Railway), GWR (Great Western Railway), and Southern Railway (SR) – are created following the Railways Act of 1921.
More than 500 million passenger journeys have been made on the Elizabeth line in its first two and a half years, making it the single busiest railway service in the UK.
9 of England's most beautiful train stations
London Liverpool Street is Great Britain's busiest railway station for the third year running with almost 100 million entries and exits, the Office of Rail and Road has confirmed today.
The TSGN franchise is operated by Govia Thameslink Railway, owned by Govia, and is the largest railway franchise in the United Kingdom.
Luggage allowance on Avanti West Coast trains
You can bring a maximum of three items of luggage onboard with you, providing you're able to carry it all yourself*. Your largest bag should not exceed 30 x 70 x 90cm in size.
In August 2019, the First Trenitalia consortium was awarded the West Coast Partnership contract, with Avanti West Coast commencing in December 2019, thus ending Virgin Trains services after 22 years.
The London Underground, known as the Tube, is the world's oldest metro system, having opened in 1863. It began with steam-powered trains running through tunnels built during the Victorian era. Despite major upgrades over the years, parts of the original infrastructure are still in use today.
Since Liverpool Road ceased operation, the oldest railway station in use is Broad Green railway station in Liverpool which opened on 15 September 1830. The Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened starting from Liverpool Crown Street, hence the older stations start from Liverpool.
LNER is owned by DfT Operator Limited (DFTO). DFTO is the government's public sector rail owning group.
Cornelius Vanderbilt (May 27, 1794 – January 4, 1877), nicknamed "the Commodore", was an American business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping.
Union Pacific is one of the leading railroad companies in the world, with an estimated market value of 149.46 billion U.S. dollars as of June 2024. Union Pacific focuses on hauling freight on the largest railway network in the world. Canadian National Railway is valued at 81 billion U.S. dollars.
C can stand for Chessie, S for Seaboard and X, the multiplication symbol, means that together we are so much more." However, an August 9, 2016, article on the Railway Age website stated that " ... the 'X' was for 'Consolidated' ".